I apparently skipped a step at setup, where you draw tiles and seed the board a little. I was not taught that when i learned the game and clearly skipped over it when reviewing the rulebook. My apologies.
So, as i work on my book, Red Dust Rebellion and Shadow Moon Syndicates, we will be diving into some older games over the next wee while. Here is Acquire, a game that has been called the monopoly killer for 60 years, monopoly still seems to be hanging about though. That said, for a game made in the 1960's, Acquire feels far more contemporary that its peers. And while it might feel pretty dated in places, the core concept here still hold up.
Bought my AH copy of Acquire in 1974 or 1975. This was one of my most played games during college and I consider it the game that opened my eyes to the bigger world of board games and the start of a lifelong addiction to playing great games!
i played this so much in college. the best part was having a consistent group to play with and learning how to maximize profit together. Scores got so much higher the longer we played, because we all adopted strategies that drove up _everyone's_ profit. Such a neat concept for a competitive game.
Acquire has been such a good game for me this past year. For such a simple game, it can evolve in many directions and require different money management strategies. My strategy for teaching new players has been to narrate my turn and explain what I see in the game state. Being an open book puts me at a disadvantage, and they can plan their turn with a better idea of what the future board state may look like.
I have the old Hasbro version... The one with the George Clooney looking fellow on the box! It's one of my top five favorite games of all time and I'll never sell it, though it's going for like $200 bucks on ebay these days. Best iteration of the game, in my opinion. Glad to see that someone has released a decent version of this classic! Thanks for the review!
Great game. MUCH better, in every way, than monopoly, though it needs more multiplication skills. Much more modern than its age suggests, quick to learn and play. No surprise it's still in print. Thanks for your concise review
I thought there were rules for the start of the game where each player takes a tile and whoever has the highest number (broken by letter) gets to go first. But those tile are placed on the board to start the game.
Wow, I hate monopoly, and this looks like its that on steroids. It doesnt look like my kind of game, but as always I love that you review all types of board games! ❤
Acquire is not really like Monopoly. At all. Is there money? Yes. Can you lose money as a player? If you're really bad at the game, perhaps, but that's mostly your choice. I have never seen a game where a player had less money than they started with. Stock prices either increase or stay the same but the buyout bonus should net you money. There are no dice or properties or event decks or pawns. No player gives another player money from their own wallet. There is a bank....like the game has money in it. That's the only similarity.
I apparently skipped a step at setup, where you draw tiles and seed the board a little. I was not taught that when i learned the game and clearly skipped over it when reviewing the rulebook. My apologies.
Missed that too and never played it that way.
yup, the lowest tile is the starting player.
In an alternate universe, acquire is in every Americans home instead of monopoly. Such a good game
So, as i work on my book, Red Dust Rebellion and Shadow Moon Syndicates, we will be diving into some older games over the next wee while. Here is Acquire, a game that has been called the monopoly killer for 60 years, monopoly still seems to be hanging about though. That said, for a game made in the 1960's, Acquire feels far more contemporary that its peers. And while it might feel pretty dated in places, the core concept here still hold up.
I'm excited to see older games. Always wanted to know which ones are the classics worth time.
Bought my AH copy of Acquire in 1974 or 1975. This was one of my most played games during college and I consider it the game that opened my eyes to the bigger world of board games and the start of a lifelong addiction to playing great games!
i played this so much in college. the best part was having a consistent group to play with and learning how to maximize profit together. Scores got so much higher the longer we played, because we all adopted strategies that drove up _everyone's_ profit. Such a neat concept for a competitive game.
Acquire has been such a good game for me this past year. For such a simple game, it can evolve in many directions and require different money management strategies. My strategy for teaching new players has been to narrate my turn and explain what I see in the game state. Being an open book puts me at a disadvantage, and they can plan their turn with a better idea of what the future board state may look like.
I have the old Hasbro version... The one with the George Clooney looking fellow on the box!
It's one of my top five favorite games of all time and I'll never sell it, though it's going for like $200 bucks on ebay these days. Best iteration of the game, in my opinion.
Glad to see that someone has released a decent version of this classic! Thanks for the review!
The blue box AH with the 3E misprint tile is a great version of the game. Solid edition. The 3D 90's set is nice too but yes expensive.
The best game I’ve never played with real humans. Such a great game. My hope is for a digital version some day.
Now I'm curious about 'Dawn of Ulos'
Yeah, if you like Acquire it is very much inspired by it
As always: Just well done! It's a talent.
Cheers
Despite its age, Acquire is still a staple at WBC. It has stood the test of time and continues to attract the sharks.
Great game. MUCH better, in every way, than monopoly, though it needs more multiplication skills. Much more modern than its age suggests, quick to learn and play. No surprise it's still in print. Thanks for your concise review
If you want a twist on a familiar set of games, play Cold Cash Risk. It's a ruleset that combines Risk and Acquire.
been looking at this for a while
The Rules of Acquisition
Why this hasnt been made is beyond me
I notice some orange bits on the side of the non-orange hotel pieces, anything I need to know about them?
Those are just little plastic bits made to look like hotel signs
GOTY 1963 :P
Easily, lol
I thought there were rules for the start of the game where each player takes a tile and whoever has the highest number (broken by letter) gets to go first. But those tile are placed on the board to start the game.
Maybe, i guess i wasnt taught it that way
Yes the board is supposed to be seeded. Tile closest to 1A goes first.
How does this compare to other city builders like foundations of Rome/metropolis?
It's not a city builder at all. It's a stocks game.
Wow, I hate monopoly, and this looks like its that on steroids. It doesnt look like my kind of game, but as always I love that you review all types of board games! ❤
Its the original monopoly killer, so yeah, if you just want to avoid that sorta game, it wont be for you.
Acquire is not really like Monopoly. At all. Is there money? Yes. Can you lose money as a player? If you're really bad at the game, perhaps, but that's mostly your choice. I have never seen a game where a player had less money than they started with. Stock prices either increase or stay the same but the buyout bonus should net you money. There are no dice or properties or event decks or pawns. No player gives another player money from their own wallet. There is a bank....like the game has money in it. That's the only similarity.